We Lived For Second Chance

Chapter 3

"Miguel?" Takang tanong ni tita Ann. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

"Nakatulog po si Cazzy sa trabaho. Iuuwi ko lang po siya." Sagot ko. Napansin ako ang batang babae na naglalaro sa sala nila. Lumapit ito kay tita Ann.

"Nandiyan na po si mama?" Tanong nito.

Si Cazzy ba ang mama niya?

Miguel Dave Iglesias
I closed the folder containing the agreement paper that Mr. Santos signed. Naglalaman ito ng kasunduan sa pakikipag-partner niya sa company na pinapatakbo ko.

"I guess, that ends our meeting, Mr. Iglesias." Sabi nito habang inaayos ang kaniyang tie.

"Indeed, sir. It's a pleasure doing business with you." Ani ko, at nakipag-kamay na sakanya.

Hinintay ko muna siyang umalis sa restaurant bago ako sumunod at dumiretso sa parking lot at bumalik na sa office.

"Sir, nag-set po ng meeting si Mr. Flores sainyo. Ikokonsulta ko na po ba kay Ms. Cazzy para maayos na ang schedule?" Tanong ni Yllona.

"Just hand me the papers. Ako na ang kokonsulta sakanya. She's staying in my office, anyways." Kinuha ko ang papel sakanya at umakyat na sa 13th floor. Binati ako ng ilan sa mga executives na nasa 13th floor, bago binuksan ang pinto ng opisina ko.

"Cazzy, can you fit Mr. Flores in the sched---"

Her head is down the table, her jet black hair hiding her face. "Cazzy, are you sleeping in the time of work?"

She's not moving. She must've been in a deep sleep. Hinawi ko ang ilang strand ng buhok ni Cazzy palayo sa mukha niya. There she is, sleeping peacefully. She must've been tired from typing ang proofreading for the whole day.

Sinilip ko ang laptop na gamit niya, and my schedule is well organized. She gave me two meeting everyday.

"Cazzy, it's almost time. Your shift will end soon." Tinapik ko siya ng mahina, but to no avail, she's not waking up. Her slumber have gone deeper.

Her shift came to an end, and I can't just leave her alone here. I carried her in a bridal style and walked out of my office.

Dinig ko ang bulungan ng mga executives.

"Is that Cazzy?"

"Ang sweet naman ni sir."

I opened the car and placed her carefully at the back seat. Alam ko parin naman ang bahay nila, kaya lang, hindi ko alam kung doon pa ba sila nakatira.

I parked the car outside a blue gate. Binuhat ko ulit si Cazzy at pumasok na sa gate, dahil bukas naman ito. Trespassing parin ba yun kahit kilala naman nila ako?

"Tao po?"

"Miguel?" Takang tanong ni tita Ann. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

"Nakatulog po si Cazzy sa trabaho. Iuuwi ko lang po siya." Sagot ko. Napansin ako ang batang babae na naglalaro sa sala nila. Lumapit ito kay tita Ann.

"Nandiyan na po si mama?" Tanong nito.

Si Cazzy ba ang mama niya? She's so cute too. Her eyes are like Cazzy, but her lips are like... mine.

"Tita, kanino po anak iyan?" Tanong ko habang naka-tingin sa bata.

"Mama!" She squealed. "Bakit ninyo po hawak si mama?" She asked innocently as she tilt her head.

Anak nga ni Cazzy... She could be our child.

"Naka-tulog kasi si mama sa work." Malambing na sagot ko.

"Ayy! Napagod po si mama?" Inosenteng tanong nito. "Kawawa naman si mama."

She's so sweet. She got that attitude from Cazzy. "Ibaba mo nalang si Cazzy doon sa dati niyang kwarto. Alam mo naman iyon, di'ba?" Utos ni tita Ann.

"Opo." I walked towards Cazzy's old room. Hindi na siguro siya dito naka-tira kaya ganoon ang pagkaka-sabi ni tita.

The little girl opened the door and jumped cutely to turn on the lights. Cazzy's room looks tidy, and untouched for a long time. Ibinaba ko siya ng marahan sa kama niya, and covered her body with a blanket. After that, I looked at the little girl who's trying to climb in her mom's bed.

Binuhat ko siya at inakyat sa kama ni Cazzy. "Hi." Bati ko. "Anong pangalan mo?"

"Claire po. Queen Claireioette Neifriethiry Ferrer." Long name, just like her mom.

Ngumiti ako. "Nasaan ang papa mo?" Diniretso ko'na. Kung isagot niya man ang inaasahan ko, I will literally push Cazzy to tell me the truth.

"Sir?" Cazzy said as she woke up. Her eyes became wide when she saw her daughter and me. "A-ano pong ginagawa ninyo dito?" Nauutal niyang tanong.

"Nakatulog ka sa office, kaya hinatid na kita. Tapos na rin naman ang shift mo." Sagot ko.

"Claire, puntahan mo muna si lola." Cazzy demanded, and helped Claire go down her bed.

Naglakad naman palayo si Claire at lumapit kay tita Ann.

"Sir, if this isn't offensive to you, can you please leave?" She tried sounding polite, but I know she's hiding something. We've been in a relationship for six years, and I can basically read her like an open book.

"Not until I find out who is the father of your child." Sagot ko.

"Claire's father is not the matter here, sir. Please, be professional and stay out of my personal life."

Those words struck like a knife. Tama nga naman. It's her personal life, at kung tutuusin, wala na dapat akong pakialam, pero hindi rin naman ako mapapalagay hangga't 'di ko nalalaman kung sino ang tatay ni Claire.

"You told me, you were pregnant before we parted ways. Is she the child you were pregnant with?" I asked. "Is she my daughter, Cazzy?"

"No." Mabilis na sagot ni Cazzy. "Hindi mo anak si Claire."

Medyo nan-dilim ang paningin ko, pero hindi ko hinayaan na manaig ito sa'kin. "Ang bilis nang sagot mo, ah." Pabiro ang tono pero medyo pilosopo talaga ang statement ko. "Parang matagal mo nang pinag-isipan ang isasagot mo kung sakaling magkita ulit tayo."

Her breathe hitched. "Anong sinasabi mo?" Inis na tanong niya. "Sir, pwede bang umalis ka na?" It's not a request, it's a demand. She's pushing me away to avoid the question. "This is not professional at all."

Professional? "Wala tayo sa office, Cazzy. I can be unprofessional for all I care." I spat. "Just tell me the truth. Anak ko ba si Claire?"

"No." Her eyes avoided my gaze. "Just leave, sir. Please."

I look at her in disbelief. She's really keeping me away from our daughter. Though, she's not admitting everything, I knew that she's my daughter. My own flesh and blood.

I turned to leave and exited her room. I saw Claire playing with Elay. Gusto kong magpaalam sakanya bago ako umalis. "Claire." I called. "Aalis na ako."

She waved cutely. "Bye-bye po."

I smiled at her, and stepped outside with a frown. Paul was right. She wouldn't just give up hiding our child. And I'm certain, that Claire is my daughter. Cazzy is a kind person, baka nabigla lang siya, but I swear, I'm gonna get to the bottom of this.